| The romance and mystery of secret compartments in | | | | Today we use safety deposit boxes and safes, but |
| antique desks surged with the popular movie, National | | | | they were not in existence back then, so hidden |
| Treasure 2: Book of Secrets. In the movie, the hero, | | | | compartments helped people feel secure. |
| Benjamin Franklin Gates (played by Nicholas Cage) | | | | Some desks would have only one hidden |
| has to break into the White House to find clues hidden | | | | compartment, others would have many. In one simple |
| in a secret compartment in the Resolute Desk in the | | | | slant top desk, 21 hidden cubbies were discovered. |
| Oval Office. A second clue is found in the twin desk at | | | | Some compartments are a decent size, and may be |
| Buckingham Palace. The secret compartments open | | | | found under false bottoms in a drawer. Document |
| up with a combination involving how far the other | | | | boxes were one type of larger hidden compartments |
| known drawers are pulled out. It is quite elaborate, and | | | | that became quite common for awhile, often hidden |
| appeals to the detective in all of us! | | | | behind the half column pilasters that flanked the central |
| An actual finding of valuable documents in an old desk | | | | section. Other secret compartments are quite small |
| happened in the early 1900’s. In 1794, the future 5th | | | | with just enough room for a few folded bills or |
| president of the United States, James Monroe, | | | | perhaps a small piece of jewelry. |
| purchased a Louis XVI desk that had a secret | | | | Some secret compartments in desks could only be |
| compartment. James Monroe did not tell anyone about | | | | reached by removing a series of regular drawers, |
| this secret compartment. It wasn’t until 1906 when | | | | others were concealed behind ornamental trim. Some |
| one of Monroe’s descendants, a child, damaged | | | | were opened by raising them up with a fingernail or |
| the desk. The desk was taken to a cabinet maker to | | | | letter opener, and others were held in place with a |
| be repaired and the secret compartment was | | | | wooden spring that first had to be released. This |
| discovered. Inside were priceless and historical | | | | complicated the process because of the additional |
| documents, including letters from Presidents Thomas | | | | trick of finding the trigger for the spring. The best way |
| Jefferson and James Madison. Considering that | | | | is simply by feeling around. |
| Jefferson burned most of his personal | | | | After seeing a few of these hidden compartments, |
| correspondence, this truly was a treasure! | | | | one has to admire the ingenuity of the cabinetmakers |
| Today, many antique seekers dream of finding a desk | | | | of the time. I have heard of some desk owners taking |
| with a secret compartment containing hidden | | | | years to locate secret compartments that there were |
| treasures. So what should you be looking for to help | | | | sure that existed. So owning an antique desk and |
| you narrow the search? | | | | discovering its secrets, is more a work of love for the |
| Though they had been around for awhile, secret | | | | challenge, not a “get rich quick” deal. |
| compartments in desks, inspired by the Italians, | | | | So the question remains, does the real Resolute desk |
| became popular in English and American cabinet | | | | in the Oval office have a secret compartment? I did a |
| making around 1720. The trend continued for about 100 | | | | little checking around and cannot say for sure. I found |
| years, and though later ones can be found, they were | | | | one person online who confidently said, “Yes!” |
| not as common. One reason that they became | | | | but gave no documentation or proof, so my answer is, |
| desirable was for strictly functional reasons: a secure | | | | “I don’t know, but would love to find out! |
| place to keep valuable documents, money and jewelry. | | | | |